Despite the constant showers, the crowd trickled in and, by early afternoon, the muddied lawns were dotted with scores of blues enthusiasts. Some ducked into vendors' tents for a respite from the rain.

Bruce Gootner, of West Palm Beach, sold electric cigar box guitars — a modern version of the kind made by slaves on plantations in the 1850s, he said. The hand-crafted instruments donned colorful graphics and artwork and three strings.

"Putting them in the hands of a real musician always blows me away," said Gootner, who modestly added he only plays the slide guitar made of cigar boxes.

Alan Lewis, 65, of Middletown, N.Y., is a lap steel and dobro guitarist who came to groove to the blues all day long, he said. He jams with some musicians while staying in Hillsboro Beach for the season and plays in a band called Broke Down and Busted back home.

Their style is "psychobilly, jazz, blues and rock and roll," he said.

But the festival was a real treat, Lewis said, noting that one of his band members even flew in from New York just to attend.

"For the opportunity to see them here, this is outstanding," Lewis said, "The music is hot."

His wife, Barbara Lewis, a former flutist, said they brought ponchos, blankets, umbrellas and rented chairs and weren't budging — despite the rain.

"I'm a classically trained musician, but I love all kinds of music," she said. "There's so much music happening — live music. That's what we love about South Florida."